Do you know how the different levels of women's football leagues are divided in UK? How many teams are there in each tier? What does it take to get you and your favourite team to the top of the pyramid of league? Let's take a look at the women's football pyramid.
Women's Football Pyramid
1. Introduction: What is Women's Football Pyramid?
The "women's football pyramid" (WFP) refers to the structure in which the Football Association determines the participating teams and their respective positions in each league level, based on the varying performances of teams across the country in the previous season's leagues, as well as the registration status for the new season.
2. Introduction: How Many Clubs in WFP?
In summary, for the 2023-2024 season, there are a total of 168 teams across 6 tiers. The lowest tier, Tier 6, is the North West and North East Regional League, while the highest tiers are the well-known WSL (Women's Super League) and WC (Women's Championship) leagues.
3. Promotion and Relegation Mechanism
For the top and bottom teams in each tier, there are opportunities for promotion and relegation. In addition to direct promotion or relegation based on final league standings, there are also promotion and relegation play-offs in Tier 3 and below. Furthermore, if a team from a higher tier voluntarily relegates, a team from the next tier can fill the vacancy and move up.
4. Road to WSL: Is Grassroots to Pro Possible?
Can a grassroots women's football team, through continuous improvement, eventually move up to Tier 1 or Tier 2, participate in WSL or WC competitions, and gain spotlight from everywhere? The answer is yes, but there are several conditions that need to be met.
Firstly, good match points and results are essential, as strong performance is the guarantee for stepping onto a bigger stage, right?
Secondly, when your team is strong enough and moves up from Tier 3 to Tier 2, the stadium rating becomes a crucial factor in determining whether you can take the next step. The FA's Women's Football Pyramid regulations clearly state that the home ground conditions of clubs must pass the corresponding ground grading criteria.
Once your team meets these conditions in terms of strength and facilities, congratulations, there is only one final condition left, which is to obtain the corresponding access license. This is determined by the club's financial, personnel, and other operational indicators, and it is the final threshold for entering the top-tier league.
